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Dreamwalker #3
Dreamweaver
When Jessica Drake learned that her DNA didn’t match that of her parents, she had no idea that investigating her true heritage would put her family’s lives in danger, and ultimately force her to cross into another world.
There, in an alternate Earth dominated by individuals with frightening mental powers called Gifts, Jessica learned of a curse within her blood, one so terrifying that all who possessed it were destroyed on sight. For she is a Dreamwalker, and the same dark Gift that allows her to enter the dreams of others will eventually destroy her mind and spread insanity to all around her.
Now the deadly wraiths known as reapers, createdto hunt down the last Dreamwalkers, are starting to target her family. In order to destroy them she must seek out a mysterious shapeshifting tower where the secret of the reapers’ creation—and her own Dreamwalker heritage—can be found. Joining forces once more with the ex-Shadow Isaac and loremaster Sebastian, she travels to the Badlands, a region on the alternate Earth from which no traveler has ever returned.
But her efforts to unlock the secrets of the past will soon ignite the flames of an ancient war, as the deadand the undead gather to fight their final battle against the Dreamwalkers—with Jessica and Isaac on the front lines, and the fate of her entire homeworld at stake.
There, in an alternate Earth dominated by individuals with frightening mental powers called Gifts, Jessica learned of a curse within her blood, one so terrifying that all who possessed it were destroyed on sight. For she is a Dreamwalker, and the same dark Gift that allows her to enter the dreams of others will eventually destroy her mind and spread insanity to all around her.
Now the deadly wraiths known as reapers, createdto hunt down the last Dreamwalkers, are starting to target her family. In order to destroy them she must seek out a mysterious shapeshifting tower where the secret of the reapers’ creation—and her own Dreamwalker heritage—can be found. Joining forces once more with the ex-Shadow Isaac and loremaster Sebastian, she travels to the Badlands, a region on the alternate Earth from which no traveler has ever returned.
But her efforts to unlock the secrets of the past will soon ignite the flames of an ancient war, as the deadand the undead gather to fight their final battle against the Dreamwalkers—with Jessica and Isaac on the front lines, and the fate of her entire homeworld at stake.
348 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 6, 2016
13 people are currently reading
234 people want to read
About the author
C.S. Friedman
49 books1,280 followersCelia S. Friedman is a science fiction and fantasy author. She has also been credited Celia S. Friedman and Celia Friedman.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 8, 2016
Dreamweaver is the last installment in C. S. Friedman's The Dreamwalker Chronicles. The series was originally meant to be comprised of more books, but the author elected to wrap things up and make this a trilogy while writing the second volume. Based on Dreamwalker, it was evident that this was a series brimming with potential. Upping her game in Dreamseeker, the second installment, Friedman promised a good finale to come. And I'm pleased to report that it's pretty much mission accomplished for the author!
And although Dreamweaver closes the show in satisfying fashion, it remains thoroughly YA in style and tone. As such, like its predecessors, it is a world away from the dark science fiction and fantasy series/novels Friedman has become renowned for. Which means that this one is only for those readers who have enjoyed the first two volumes. Those who have found these YA titles offputting will find nothing in Dreamweaver to help change their opinion regarding The Dreamwalker Chronicles as a whole. Yet they can rejoice, for Friedman announced last year that her next work will be set in the same universe as the novel This Alien Shore!
Here's the blurb:
When Jessica Drake learned that her DNA didn’t match that of her parents, she had no idea that investigating her true heritage would put her family’s lives in danger, and ultimately force her to cross into another world.
There, in an alternate Earth dominated by individuals with frightening mental powers called Gifts, Jessica learned of a curse within her blood, one so terrifying that all who possessed it were destroyed on sight. For she is a Dreamwalker, and the same dark Gift that allows her to enter the dreams of others will eventually destroy her mind and spread insanity to all around her.
Now the deadly wraiths known as reapers, created to hunt down the last Dreamwalkers, are starting to target her family. In order to destroy them she must seek out a mysterious shapeshifting tower where the secret of the reapers’ creation—and her own Dreamwalker heritage—can be found. Joining forces once more with the ex-Shadow Isaac and loremaster Sebastian, she travels to the Badlands, a region on the alternate Earth from which no traveler has ever returned.
But her efforts to unlock the secrets of the past will soon ignite the flames of an ancient war, as the deadand the undead gather to fight their final battle against the Dreamwalkers—with Jessica and Isaac on the front lines, and the fate of her entire homeworld at stake.
Worldbuilding has always been an aspect in which Friedman shines. And yet, by specifically trying to write something less dark and complex, I felt that there was a certain lack in that facet of her writing when I first read Dreamwalker. The potential for more complexity and more darkness was definitely there, no question. C. S. Friedman certainly upped her game in the second volume and, as was her objective, said complexity and darkness did build up. Isaac's storyline, in particular, added more depth to this tale. Dreamweaver unveils the truth about the Dreamwalkers and the Shadows and what led to the destruction of the former. But considering that these secrets were probably meant to be unveiled gradually over the course of a number of installments, it felt a bit rushed to get all these revelations within the bounds of a single novel.
I felt that characterization was an issue in the second volume. In Dreamwalker, Jessica Drake's point of view shared the spotlight with her brother Tommy, as well as her friends Rita, Devon, and Isaac. In my opinion, having such a well-balanced perspective helped move the tale forward and definitely made for a more enjoyable reading experience. Understandably, the plot has its own demands and Dreamseeker was mostly told from the POVs of Jesse and Isaac. Both of them are well-drawn, three-dimensional characters that remain true to themselves. It's just that on their own, when they must carry the weight of the entire tale on their shoulders, independently they're not as compelling protagonists as they were as part of a collective unit. The bulk of Dreamweaver is once again told from Jesse and Isaac's perspectives. Probably due to the fact that half of the novel focuses on the endgame of the series, I found their points of view more interesting this time around. Alia Morgana occasionally gets a POV chapter, as her machinations land her in a precarious position. The same goes for Sebastian Hayes, who remains the most captivating character of this trilogy. There are a few more POVS spread throughout the book, but this remains Jesse and Isaac's story for the most part. It would have been nice to get Ahota's perspective, as she was by far the most fascinating character they met in the Badlands.
In terms of rhythm, unlike Dreamseeker, this final volume is as fast-moving as Dreamwalker. Especially once they venture into the Badlands in search of the Dreamwalkers' shape-shifting tower. As I mentioned, some of these revelations were likely meant to be explored over the course of a few books, so wrapping everything up in this one made for an endgame that sometimes felt a bit rushed. Still, even if a few plotlines got resolved rapidly and led to an ending that was a little too neatly done for my taste, Dreamweaver brings this series to a satisfying conclusion. The door is left open for potential sequels, but Friedman ties up all the loose ends.
Writing the Magister trilogy took a lot out of C. S. Friedman and she needed a much-deserved break from that sort of thing. That series was by far her most densely written, aggressively dark, and adult-themed work, and it took six years of her life to complete. Hence, Friedman wanted to write something shorter, something more linear, with a plot that wasn't as convoluted, with a much faster pace. Something that her younger fans could relate to a bit more. And yet, she also wanted to write something her adult fans would enjoy as well. Whether or not The Dreamwalker Chronicles managed to do just that depends on who you ask. I understand why SFF authors like Joe Abercrombie and C. S. Friedman would want to try to tap into that lucrative YA market. They are not the first and they won't be the last. I for one am happy that they have both reached the end of their YA series and will now concentrate on adult-oriented speculative fiction works. That's how they each made a name for themselves and the genre needs such authors writing at the top of their game.
Looking forward to what comes next!
For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
And although Dreamweaver closes the show in satisfying fashion, it remains thoroughly YA in style and tone. As such, like its predecessors, it is a world away from the dark science fiction and fantasy series/novels Friedman has become renowned for. Which means that this one is only for those readers who have enjoyed the first two volumes. Those who have found these YA titles offputting will find nothing in Dreamweaver to help change their opinion regarding The Dreamwalker Chronicles as a whole. Yet they can rejoice, for Friedman announced last year that her next work will be set in the same universe as the novel This Alien Shore!
Here's the blurb:
When Jessica Drake learned that her DNA didn’t match that of her parents, she had no idea that investigating her true heritage would put her family’s lives in danger, and ultimately force her to cross into another world.
There, in an alternate Earth dominated by individuals with frightening mental powers called Gifts, Jessica learned of a curse within her blood, one so terrifying that all who possessed it were destroyed on sight. For she is a Dreamwalker, and the same dark Gift that allows her to enter the dreams of others will eventually destroy her mind and spread insanity to all around her.
Now the deadly wraiths known as reapers, created to hunt down the last Dreamwalkers, are starting to target her family. In order to destroy them she must seek out a mysterious shapeshifting tower where the secret of the reapers’ creation—and her own Dreamwalker heritage—can be found. Joining forces once more with the ex-Shadow Isaac and loremaster Sebastian, she travels to the Badlands, a region on the alternate Earth from which no traveler has ever returned.
But her efforts to unlock the secrets of the past will soon ignite the flames of an ancient war, as the deadand the undead gather to fight their final battle against the Dreamwalkers—with Jessica and Isaac on the front lines, and the fate of her entire homeworld at stake.
Worldbuilding has always been an aspect in which Friedman shines. And yet, by specifically trying to write something less dark and complex, I felt that there was a certain lack in that facet of her writing when I first read Dreamwalker. The potential for more complexity and more darkness was definitely there, no question. C. S. Friedman certainly upped her game in the second volume and, as was her objective, said complexity and darkness did build up. Isaac's storyline, in particular, added more depth to this tale. Dreamweaver unveils the truth about the Dreamwalkers and the Shadows and what led to the destruction of the former. But considering that these secrets were probably meant to be unveiled gradually over the course of a number of installments, it felt a bit rushed to get all these revelations within the bounds of a single novel.
I felt that characterization was an issue in the second volume. In Dreamwalker, Jessica Drake's point of view shared the spotlight with her brother Tommy, as well as her friends Rita, Devon, and Isaac. In my opinion, having such a well-balanced perspective helped move the tale forward and definitely made for a more enjoyable reading experience. Understandably, the plot has its own demands and Dreamseeker was mostly told from the POVs of Jesse and Isaac. Both of them are well-drawn, three-dimensional characters that remain true to themselves. It's just that on their own, when they must carry the weight of the entire tale on their shoulders, independently they're not as compelling protagonists as they were as part of a collective unit. The bulk of Dreamweaver is once again told from Jesse and Isaac's perspectives. Probably due to the fact that half of the novel focuses on the endgame of the series, I found their points of view more interesting this time around. Alia Morgana occasionally gets a POV chapter, as her machinations land her in a precarious position. The same goes for Sebastian Hayes, who remains the most captivating character of this trilogy. There are a few more POVS spread throughout the book, but this remains Jesse and Isaac's story for the most part. It would have been nice to get Ahota's perspective, as she was by far the most fascinating character they met in the Badlands.
In terms of rhythm, unlike Dreamseeker, this final volume is as fast-moving as Dreamwalker. Especially once they venture into the Badlands in search of the Dreamwalkers' shape-shifting tower. As I mentioned, some of these revelations were likely meant to be explored over the course of a few books, so wrapping everything up in this one made for an endgame that sometimes felt a bit rushed. Still, even if a few plotlines got resolved rapidly and led to an ending that was a little too neatly done for my taste, Dreamweaver brings this series to a satisfying conclusion. The door is left open for potential sequels, but Friedman ties up all the loose ends.
Writing the Magister trilogy took a lot out of C. S. Friedman and she needed a much-deserved break from that sort of thing. That series was by far her most densely written, aggressively dark, and adult-themed work, and it took six years of her life to complete. Hence, Friedman wanted to write something shorter, something more linear, with a plot that wasn't as convoluted, with a much faster pace. Something that her younger fans could relate to a bit more. And yet, she also wanted to write something her adult fans would enjoy as well. Whether or not The Dreamwalker Chronicles managed to do just that depends on who you ask. I understand why SFF authors like Joe Abercrombie and C. S. Friedman would want to try to tap into that lucrative YA market. They are not the first and they won't be the last. I for one am happy that they have both reached the end of their YA series and will now concentrate on adult-oriented speculative fiction works. That's how they each made a name for themselves and the genre needs such authors writing at the top of their game.
Looking forward to what comes next!
For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
January 14, 2021
Overall I enjoyed the narrative. However some of the writing seemed rushed in this conclusion of the trilogy, and on top of that there were some oddities in the writing for characters' reactions. The main issue I have in this third book was that a lot of things that it was building up to in the whole trilogy were resolved too simply and way too quickly when it came time to address them.
I'm surprised more people haven't read this trilogy and I know a lot of people would enjoy it as a whole even if the third book wasn't as good as the first two.
I'm surprised more people haven't read this trilogy and I know a lot of people would enjoy it as a whole even if the third book wasn't as good as the first two.
January 8, 2018
I loved the first 2 books of this series - a teenage girl suddenly is able to travel between worlds? And someone, no a whole group of someones, want to kill her for it?
Jesse finds out more info and resolves most of the problems in the first trilogy, while the ending clearly opens up threads for a new trilogy. Nicely done, but somehow not as gripping as the first two books.
I will still look forward to the next book.
Jesse finds out more info and resolves most of the problems in the first trilogy, while the ending clearly opens up threads for a new trilogy. Nicely done, but somehow not as gripping as the first two books.
I will still look forward to the next book.
December 10, 2017
Astonishing finish
If only the humans here in this world who think the only way to cope with conflict is to kill and hate and go on killing and hating forever could come up with as reasonable and creative way to settle their differences as Ms. Friedman has, reality might be as good as fantasy.
If only the humans here in this world who think the only way to cope with conflict is to kill and hate and go on killing and hating forever could come up with as reasonable and creative way to settle their differences as Ms. Friedman has, reality might be as good as fantasy.
January 16, 2018
2.5. I found this book (and really the whole series) underdeveloped. Characters, world, plot, politics, you name it. This was a slog for me, I just didn't feel invested in any of the characters , while the world didn't inspire any feelings of wonder or awe. A rare misstep from an author I admire, and whose other books I'd recommend.
November 18, 2023
This is the last book of the trilogy and it did not disappoint. Our main character learns about herself, other characters find redemption and the plot lines tie in nicely. I have enjoyed all the books I’ve read by Ms Friedman over the years and this one was no different.
June 12, 2017
I love C. S. Friedman but this one lacked much emotional punch. I never really felt like Jesse was in any real danger. Nonetheless, cool world building and definitely high quality for a YA book.
August 30, 2017
A B+. Nicely wrapped up and concluded the series. Believably done and fitting.
July 27, 2023
The last of the trio of books. I enjoyed reading the series. It was interesting and had a very Sci Fi feel to it.
May 19, 2024
Most satisfying 😉
Currently reading
November 15, 2024on page 34
February 20, 2017
C.S. Friedman’s novels for adults are always exceptional. I have less experience with her novels for young adults. Dreamweaver is written with a young adult target audience in mind. The plot and writing are more straightforward, less complex but still enjoyable for adult readers. The third novel of the Dreamwalker Chronicles brings the series to its conclusion.
Jessica’s dreams and those of her mother and brother are plagued by the reapers. It seems only a matter of time before they are killed. The Shadowlord Virillian is calling for an active hunt for Dreamwalkers throughout the realms. Jessica and her family's survival hinges on her discovery of Dreamwalker lore hidden in the ever-changing tower. The path leads her back to Terra Prime. Old allies await, but to find her goal they must first travel into the badlands - from which no traveler has returned.
Although I prefer her fantasies written for adults, Dreamweaver is an excellent piece of young adult fiction. The plot is well conceived, and the novel isn’t sappy or melodramatic. Romantic angst has no place. Like all of Friedman’s novels - the story is what is important.
5 / 5
I highly recommend Dreamweaver to young adults looking for an excellent fantasy as opposed to an angsty romantic fantasy.
I received a copy of Dreamweaver from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review
--Crittermom
December 30, 2016
I don't know maybe I am not a fan of the writing or maybe it was the main characters because I did not like the book at all. The pacing was too slow and it was more scientific than I liked. Truthfully I read the first two hundred pages and then skimmed the rest because I wasn't enjoying this book at all. When I was younger I tried to read another series by this author and I remember not finishing that book either so I maybe I am not a fan of this author's writing. This book was the ending of this trilogy but it did not feel like an ending. Either if it does continue I would not be reading more of this series. Two stars for a very disappointing ending.
CC Plus guessing the reapers used to be dreamwalkers was obvious most of the time I could predict what was going to happen in this book. That was another thing I did not like was how predictable some of the plots were. There were things happening in this book that was told to us rather than shown I would have prefered reading about those things rather than being told about them. Anyways I am going to end this now. This book should have been my favorite, it is about one of my favorite topics alternative universes, but somehow I did not enjoy it at all.
CC Plus guessing the reapers used to be dreamwalkers was obvious most of the time I could predict what was going to happen in this book. That was another thing I did not like was how predictable some of the plots were. There were things happening in this book that was told to us rather than shown I would have prefered reading about those things rather than being told about them. Anyways I am going to end this now. This book should have been my favorite, it is about one of my favorite topics alternative universes, but somehow I did not enjoy it at all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2017
A stronger finish than start
Jess, the protagonist, was pretty boring in book 1 which is a problem with a close first person narrator. Fortunately, whether it's because she's grown as a character or just familiarity, there's more there there and the conflict is more immediately pressing. Dropping the romance triangle from the first book helped a lot, too. Issac continues to have POV, which is nice since he's the a lot more interesting than Jess. The conflict wraps up fairly easily all told, but not crazy easily.
Jess, the protagonist, was pretty boring in book 1 which is a problem with a close first person narrator. Fortunately, whether it's because she's grown as a character or just familiarity, there's more there there and the conflict is more immediately pressing. Dropping the romance triangle from the first book helped a lot, too. Issac continues to have POV, which is nice since he's the a lot more interesting than Jess. The conflict wraps up fairly easily all told, but not crazy easily.
February 13, 2017
Not sure why I seem to pick book 3 to start a series , but this one I'll go back and look for the first two Good read, characters & mix of magic & pseudo science
April 3, 2017
The (for now), conclusion to the Jessica Drake YA trilogy is adroitly handled by the author. In this 3rd volume, Jessica finally grows into her power, and gains the ability, through trial, tribulation and tragedy, to affect and improve the fate of both heself, and those who share her Gift.
More backstory and history are revealed, and hidden allies unsuspected are found. And for anyone keen to read more, the way is left open for further installments.
An engaging, though not exceptional portal fantasy.
More backstory and history are revealed, and hidden allies unsuspected are found. And for anyone keen to read more, the way is left open for further installments.
An engaging, though not exceptional portal fantasy.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews